Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1887-06-30

at the Goals in the grate) as large Az
this piece. Of half.burned COAL and
reaching down to the CRATE, he laugh.
ingly took up large ashen lump in
his fingers.
Like mailman the count sprang to
grasp the piece from the detectives
hand and his face became almost livid.
mo, no throw it b;.ck. lit will
soil"
II beg your pardon, monsieur" said
the detective cody, "but really this is
the lightest bit Of coal for its size Why
brushing the ashes from it-"why it
is as light as wood. What is the mat
ter count? Are you i'll?
The count sat glaring. trembling
The detective saw that the bit Of coal
was somehow leading him to tho end Of
the trail, to the diamond and the man.
lie examined the lump Of coal careful
ly, but only tor a moment. Then he
quietly placed it in his pocket.
II will keep this, count. as a souve-
mir Of my visit. An odd souvenir. is
it not :"
With one bound the count de Trou.
vile sprang between his visitor and tho
door and quietly drew pistol.
"Monsicur, you words are an insult.
Either toss that bit of coal back into
the CRATE or l will make you.'
The detective took out the lump
Suddenly dropping it upon the carpet
he placed his heel heavily upon it. 1t
cracked apart beneath the pressure like
wood, and there as he stepped back lay
the other lost dimond.
You may keep the coal, l will take
the diamond and YOU
Before the count could comprehend
the movement, the detective by an ad-
ro,t trick peculiar to his profession.
sprang upon him, dashed the pistol
from his hand and held him at his mer.
cy.
"You are my prisoner, Adolphe, alias
the count de Trouville, as Fanchette
will be within an hour. l arrest you
az the murderer of Ribaud. the miser Of
Ralncy, and she as your accomplice."
An instant later the "wristlets" were
upon the count. He was like a limp
rag, he staggered to chair into which
he dropped, completely unnerved, d,with.
out word. The game was up.
An hour later the woman, Fanchette
resplendent in silks, returned from her
drive, was put under arrest and with
her companion on her way to prison.
That night she sent for the perfect.
and with tears and lamentations con-
fessed her guilt as An accomplice to tie
murder of her old master, Ribaud. the
miser. Briefly, her story was this:
While in his service she one day
came upon him unawares, and, unseen
by him, saw him remove a brick from
the lamb of the fire place in his room
and take out two large diamonds. and
after examining them, replaced them
in their conceilment.
After this she was stimulated to
watch him still closer, and she at last
found where he had hidden bis money.
under water barrel in the cellar
Three hundred thousand francs in coin:
beside in the oak chest were one hun
dred thousand francs in note. All this
he had amassed while in Paris as q rag
picker, and by the purchase Of lucky
ticket in the Hanover lottery.
She told her lover all. He was poor
-unscrupulous. He proposed to MUIR
der and make way with the body. She
was to admit him, and the horrible
work being done and the robbery ac-
complished, he was to gag and bind
her and leave her there to ward of sus-
picion. All worked we'll. As the
Count and Countess de Trouville they
came to Paris. The cry that the host
ler heard while playing cards was tho
death shrek Of the m,ser. The weap.
ons used were a bludgeon and bread
knife. 1t was the count who tried to
pawn the diamond at the Mont de Piete
Fearing thAt-being tracked by the
bank officials and the house searched
the remaining diamond would be found
he devised the idea Of conceiling it IN
bit of wood, oyer, which, with coat
ing of glue. he sprinkled coal.dust
ashes, and placed it carefully in the
opt crate, keeping always the door Of
the room locked, Led to this discovery
by the clever detective, jacquard.
Adolphe was hanged and Fanchette
was sent to penal settlement for life.
To jacquard the Due d'AumaIe made
a generous reward. On the morning
following Fanchette's confession came
tn tho nerfect the rap ,,icker